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The WHO’s regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, said that although the risk across all countries in the Europen remains very high, “it is in the east of the European region where we are seeing continued rising case counts.”

It follows Russia reporting it’s highest daily increase on Monday, confirming over 11,000 new cases in just 24 hours.

In his briefing, Kluge said that although pandemic was slowing, life on the continent had been “put on hold” and that “the future is uncertain” during “a time of sorrow”.

But he highlighted that the behaviour and responsibility of citizens in each country remained of paramount importance.

During a virtual WHO briefing he said: “Across the European region we’re seeing an overall slowing of the pandemic. But this remains a time of sorrow for many.

The UK has reported the third highest number of cases in the world, with over 230,000 confirmed infections to date since the pandemic began. (Getty Images)

“We each have a role to play in keeping the virus at bay. We are now at a fork in the road – where our actions and individual behaviour determines which path we follow.”

But he cautioned: “Emergency fatigue threatens precious gains we have made against this virus.

“Reports of distrust in authorities and conspiracy thinking are fuelling movements against physical distancing, other people are behaving over-cautiously.

“Our behaviour today will set the course for the pandemic. As governments lift restrictions, you, the people, are the main actors.”

Kluge also outlined three important rules that that should be followed as the global pandemic continues to spread.

He urged national governments to remain vigilant, to listen and “adapt accordingly” to the concerns of the public and thirdly, for general populations to “behave responsibly” among high rates of infection.

Meanwhile, in England, restrictions on movement and social distancing were slightly eased on Wednesday.

A man wears a medical mask as a precaution against coronavirus in central London. (Getty Images)